DSE News Network and IOL
Post-mortem examinations have revealed that the wife and two daughters of alleged UK triple murder suspect Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma died from blunt force trauma.
The findings come as Tshuma, who is wanted by British authorities, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm while extradition proceedings to the United Kingdom gather pace.
Tshuma is accused of murdering his wife, Nothabo Zandile Khumalo, 42, and their daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5, whose bodies were discovered at the family’s home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, last week.
According to Sky News, forensic post-mortem examinations conducted under the direction of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit found that all three victims died from blunt force trauma.
Meanwhile, SAPS investigators say Tshuma was found carrying an unlicensed firearm loaded with two rounds of ammunition when he was arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, on Friday.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said investigators established that Tshuma allegedly purchased the firearm shortly after arriving in South Africa.
“On Friday, during his arrest, he was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm. According to our investigation, after landing in South Africa on July 5, he went to one of the townships where he bought this particular unlicensed firearm,” Mathe said.
“We have a separate investigation being conducted by Gauteng Organised Crime and Crime Intelligence to trace the person who sold him the firearm that was found with two rounds of ammunition,” she said.
Police believe the firearm was intended to be used to end Tshuma’s own life before authorities tracked him down.
“It is our suspicion that this particular firearm was going to be used to end his life. It is commendable that our teams worked quickly to arrest him before that process could unfold so that he can answer to the crimes that he committed in the UK,” Mathe said.
Tshuma is accused of murdering his wife, Nothabo Zandile Khumalo, 42, and their daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5, whose bodies were discovered at the family’s home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, last week.
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Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi praised the coordinated efforts of SAPS, Interpol and other law enforcement agencies that led to Tshuma’s arrest.
“I must commend SAPS, Interpol and the multidisciplinary team for the sterling work they have done this week in the arrest of Mr Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, a fugitive wanted for the murder of his wife and two children in the UK,” Kubayi said.
She confirmed that Tshuma entered South Africa through OR Tambo International Airport on July 5, before British authorities had issued an international alert.
“At the time he went through OR Tambo, he had not yet been flagged by the British authorities. Had he been flagged, he would not have entered the country,” Kubayi said.
She said South African authorities moved immediately once Interpol circulated the alert.
“Once we received the alert from Interpol, we acted swiftly, with a multidisciplinary team conducting tracing, and the suspect was arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg.”
Kubayi confirmed that the extradition process is under way and that she will sign the required legal documents to facilitate Tshuma’s return to the United Kingdom. – Source: IOL
